In an era of texting, Facebook, Instagram, and email, it seems as though this is an antiquated idea. We’ve made communication faster, more convenient and straight-forward. We no longer need to make or read facial expressions – we have emojis! Why waste the energy on getting together when we can LOL over a text? Sure, there are some drawbacks, but all-in-all it’s a net gain, right?

We know it isn’t.

It’s why the Louvre is jam-packed every day with people clamoring to see the Mona Lisa when they can see a high-definition picture on their phone. We can choose to watch the Bears from the comfort of our own couch on a big screen, but we choose to pay a hundred bucks to see it from the top of the stadium where the football looks like a grain of rice. Tens of thousands pack Wembley Stadium to see Ed Sheeran play when you can listen to a perfect recording on Amazon Prime for free.

We pay money, time and energy for these privileges and they excite us. The most beautiful picture of the Rocky Mountains can’t possibly recreate the smell of the air or feel of the crisp breeze. Go and examine at Monet’s “Water Lilies,” at Chicago’s Institute of Art and then at a picture online. It doesn’t take an art critic to see the difference.

The same goes for face to face conversations.

Just last week, Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo talked about the struggles of young players being teammates with superstar LeBron James.

“Every guy on our team, LeBron was their favorite player growing up. Everyone had the shoes, his jersey. You’re the biggest fan in the world.”

Then trade rumors surfaced. Rumors involving these young players being traded off of the team. LeBron was vocally excited about the possibility of the trades.

Rondo continued, “It’s like you’re playing with MJ (Michael Jordan) … and it’s like your mom and dad, or the person that you looked up to and idolized, doesn’t want you. And then to have that sitting in your gut, not knowing. Guys aren’t at the age where they can have a man-to-man conversation versus texting you. Everybody wants to text you: ‘How you doing? We cool?’ People don’t understand how to have a real conversation and talk out problems.”

He absolutely nailed it. As a society, we have begun to lose the ability to have real conversations. Some in the current generation have never developed the skill. It is something that the best text, email or Facebook post cannot duplicate. We need to sit and talk.

It’s why we continue to go to Africa.

It takes us 20 to 30 hours of travel time just to get to our first beds on the Continent. Then there is another leg of the journey to get to our destination – usually another 3 to 5 hours. But I can tell you from experience, there is nothing in the world like sitting and talking to farmers who earn less than $2 a day and hearing their stories. I cannot possibly describe what it feels like to shake the gnarled and calloused hand of a 74-year-old man who works 10 hours every day in his fields. Words cannot express the joy of being embraced by a child who we’ve sponsored and hearing, “I’m so happy you’re back.”

This is where change starts. In face to face conversations. In handshakes, gestures and facial expressions. Building relationships takes time, but we cannot replace it with innovation.

“Let’s talk.” – It’s beautiful.

]]>http://twopenniesministry.com/we-need-to-talk/feed/0New Year – New Reminderhttp://twopenniesministry.com/new-year-new-reminder/
http://twopenniesministry.com/new-year-new-reminder/#respondWed, 02 Jan 2019 02:14:41 +0000http://twopenniesministry.com/?p=1177The dawn of a new year is always a good time to take some time to reflect on the last year and look forward to the year ahead. For us at the Two Pennies Ministry, it is a chance to take a breath and recover from the busy Christmas season and our annual fundraiser at First Baptist Church. For the last three years, we have hosted fundraisers involving commemorative pieces which people take home as reminders of the sacrifices they made in order to give to someone in need. This year we had a set of coasters and ornaments coinciding with the advent season. For the past two and a half months we have been surrounded with coasters, twine, paint, varnish, glue and craft paper. While we love using our hands to raise money for a worthy cause, it can sometimes lead to a lack of focus. This year was no exception, and as the final day of our fundraiser approached, I was looking forward to being done. On the morning of our final day, I was reminded once again why we were had gone through all of our efforts

Our Coaster and Ornament sets.

Amidst the flurry at our table, I was approached by a friend who wanted to hand me a check for our ministry. I have known this person for many years and she and her husband have always been generous supporters of our work. As she handed me the check she told me that God had told her to do this. I responded with, “thank you so much for following his leading,” or something akin to that.

She looked me in the eyes and said, “No. I mean, he really did. I had a dream that I was writing the check to hand in today and God’s voice told me to add another zero.”

I stood there not knowing what to say. They aren’t a wealthy couple but they are involved in serving and their commitment to our congregation over the years has been unwavering.

As her eyes filled with tears, she said, “I’ve never had anything like this happen before and I knew that I had to obey.”

Our goal at the Two Pennies Ministry is to transform people to serve God through Love, Service and Sacrifice. In the bustle of coasters and ornaments I had begun to lose that focus – but God had not. He continually seeks to draw us nearer to him through our obedience, even when it challenges us to give more than makes sense. Through the actions of one servant, I was reminded of the purpose of our mission. It is such a blessing to be a part of a family of believers like this.

]]>http://twopenniesministry.com/new-year-new-reminder/feed/0Conclusion to the Interview with Dave Townerhttp://twopenniesministry.com/conclusion-to-the-interview-with-dave-towner/
http://twopenniesministry.com/conclusion-to-the-interview-with-dave-towner/#respondTue, 05 Dec 2017 07:30:38 +0000http://twopenniesministry.com/?p=1172This is the second part to the interview with Dave Towner. See part one on the blog post from November 28th.

2P – How about the second trip? Did you go back with the same objectives or did you go with a new goal? Are you pretty pleased with how much you accomplished from the second mission?Dave Towner: The projects were different, so of course the project-specific goals were different. However, in a broader sense, we had a completion milestone that we wanted to reach for each project. Most came together in the last day we were there – literally in the 11th hour (11pm) in one case! I’m learning that timetables and project deadlines are different in different cultures. The African culture does not put as much emphasis on these things, and my American view of the world is just one perspective. This is teaching me patience. As much as I would like to accomplish more in the small window of time we have in country, I need to be content with what we accomplish.
The other goal I had was to reconnect and deepen the relationships that I had begun on the first journey. I am very pleased with this aspect of the second journey.2P – There is a particular story about some challenges that you faced, particularly on the Second

Dave working on the wifi at the Katakyiase library.

journey, when you purposed on setting up a little computer lab. Can you talk to how those challenges were taken care?Dave Towner: We set up a computer lab consisting of 10 computer workstations in the library we had constructed the previous year. Acquiring equipment in rural Ghana is not like it is here in the US, so we encountered some roadblocks. Knowing it would be difficult, we purchased most of what we needed prior to the trip and distributed computer gear among all the journey members’ suitcases. We decided to purchase monitors and keyboards once in Ghana since it would be a challenge trying to travel with these. To make a long story short, I traveled into Cape Coast, a city located about 45 minutes from the library, every day I was in Ghana going shopping for monitors, keyboards, and other equipment. We ended up receiving most of the monitors at the end of the week. This was after we had already held our demonstration of the lab to the village elders, and it did not leave us with enough time to hold training sessions. As far as dealing with these challenges, we just had to learn patience. Things rarely go according to our plans and we have to be flexible.2P – What has been the most beneficial part of your trips to Ghana – Would you say your personal relationships or the structures that you helped to build?Dave Towner: I’ve been learning quite a bit about short-term missions and how they can be beneficial and detrimental to the people we are intending to help. The relationship aspect is vital to making a difference without causing harm. This ministry has put a significant focus on building relationships from the start, and I agree completely with this philosophy. Frankly, this is the component that was missing from all of my previous mission trips. I’m now invested in the lives of people I’ve met in Ghana, and that has by far been the most rewarding part of the journey.

Dave, Patrick and Dann on the new workstations.

2P – You are currently in-charge of planning future mission trips for 2P. What are some of the first thoughts that you plan on sharing with those who plan to be travelling to Ghana in 2018?Dave Towner: The first thing I will say is that if you feel called to go, even if you have apprehensions, you need to be obedient and go. I didn’t know what God had in store for me, but He did! Even though I didn’t know how I would be able to contribute, He used me as part of His plan. I know there are others that have had similar experiences.
We are going to spend time prior to the journey learning about how to go into a different culture on a short-term mission without causing harm and broadening our awareness of poverty and poverty-alleviation issues.
As a ministry, we continue to learn about how to interact with and help those in need. This training will be very valuable in educating all of us so that our 2018 journeys are effective and positive experiences for all involved.

]]>http://twopenniesministry.com/conclusion-to-the-interview-with-dave-towner/feed/0Interview with Dave Townerhttp://twopenniesministry.com/interview-with-dave-towner/
http://twopenniesministry.com/interview-with-dave-towner/#respondTue, 28 Nov 2017 07:27:32 +0000http://twopenniesministry.com/?p=1159This is the first installment of a two part interview. Check back on December 5th for part 2!

By Innocent Chia
Dave Towner is no stranger to short term missions. Before his first trip to Ghana, missions for the task oriented IT Engineer consisted in setting goals and getting projects completed. But when he got to Ghana he discovered another cultural reality and it changed his view of missions – Without human relationships at the center of whatever needs to be accomplished we labor in vain. Within the two Pennies organization, Dave Towner is currently in charge of planning future Mission trips. In the following interview, he talks about his interest in Missions and much more.

2P –You have been to Ghana a couple of times now with Two Pennies Ministry. Could you walk us back in time to your first trip and how you came about the decision of Mission readiness at that point of your life? Were you listening to a quiet voice from within or was it a rationalization based on a list of things you desired to do?Dave Towner: I’ve participated in several short-term mission trips in the past. The most recent one was to a bush village in Alaska in 2009. When Two Pennies began taking journeys to Ghana I was interested, but the timing wasn’t right. As the 2016 journey approached, I felt God pushing me, telling me it was time to get involved.2P –If it was the quiet voice from within, do you think you instantly recognized it and knew it was the right thing to do?Dave Towner:I think so. I didn’t know what I was going to “do” in Ghana, or what skills I would be able to offer, but I felt called nonetheless.2P –What were your top concerns and points of anxiety as you prepared for that first trip to Ghana?Dave Towner:As I indicated, I didn’t know what my role would be. My previous short-term mission trips had all focused on construction. While that was fine, I really felt like I wanted to do something non-construction related this time. Eventually, it was decided that I would be one of the leaders of the Pastor’s conference. Pastor Greg, Pastor Dan, and I were to teach at this conference for African pastors. One of these is not like the others! This is where the anxiety came in! I didn’t feel like I had the knowledge or background to serve in this capacity. I wasn’t ever totally comfortable, which isn’t necessarily bad, but it did work out.
I wasn’t looking forward to 24 hours of travel each way, either!2P – Could also share some things that you were greatly excited and looking forward to?Dave Towner:The simple fact of going to Africa was exciting! Having experienced mission trips in the past, I knew that God would use us in powerful ways to help people there and that He would use the experience to transform the lives of those going. So I knew this would be special.2P –Would it be accurate to assume that each of your Ghana trips had specific goals that you set out to achieve? If so, what are some of those goals on the first trip? How much did you get accomplished?Dave Towner:We always have plans and goals for the journeys, and then once we get there, we create plan B, then plan C, etc. It never goes as intended, regardless of how well the projects have been planned. However, I believe that it does go according to God’s plan. In hindsight, some things have turned out better because we didn’t accomplish what we had intended.

The group from the Spring 2016 Journey.

Although I only spent one day working on the construction of the library, this is a great example.
We intended to complete the construction of a roof on the library. There was an existing abandoned building already; it just needed a roof – according to our plan. Once we saw the building, we determined that it needed major structural work before we could put a roof on it. We reinforced the foundation, walls, and even knocked one end of the building over and built a new wall. By the time we left, the building was ready to have a roof installed – the status that we thought it was in when we arrived. However, the blessing of this was a more sound and safe building, and it allowed a local construction team to continue to work on it after we returned home, giving them and their families income.

Check back on December 5th to see Dave Towner’s continued reflections on his second Journey – and to see his work toward building Two Pennies work in Ghana and here in the U.S.

]]>http://twopenniesministry.com/interview-with-dave-towner/feed/0Just a Tire…http://twopenniesministry.com/just-a-tire/
http://twopenniesministry.com/just-a-tire/#respondTue, 10 Oct 2017 11:23:06 +0000http://twopenniesministry.com/?p=1145Each year, at around this time, the students in our school write pen-pal letters to students in Ghana. We encourage them to tell students their pen-pals about their faith, family, school and what they do in their free time. Invariably the students ask a multitude of questions about the lives of children and how they entertain themselves. When I explain that they don’t have books, toys, movies, tablets, or the internet, I am met with looks of utter amazement. This year I posed the question back to my students. “What would you do for fun if you didn’t have any of those things?”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children in the U.S. spend an average of seven hours of their day looking at screens. As a teacher I’ve seen an enormous shift in the way that students view recess. A major trend in rewards for students is to reward them with digital device time in the classroom. Students pick this over recess every time. There have been numerous studies conducted with that have revealed that students suffer from “screen addiction,” and go through serious withdrawal symptoms when their devices are taken away. I think many adults would react similarly to my students if they didn’t have digital devices. I know that it would be a major shift for me, in fact I’d be scared to stop and think about how much time each day I spend in front of screens.

One of the reasons that a Journey is such a wonderful experience for many of our teams is that we get to spend time with children who just love being with people. Community means so much to them and play is not something that is relegated to what you have to play with, but instead with whom. I have watched as children made a small car out of sticks and limes, played soccer for hours and stood around and talked to each other without once glancing down to see what’s in their hand.

During my last Journey while I was in Akim Kwameng, it began to rain and the children congregated at the house where we were staying. They laughed and talked and chased a cat until one of them came up with an old tire. Within seconds, they had begun a game that involved rolling that tire down a slight incline and another child would race up the slope and leap over the speeding tire. It provided endless entertainment – for both them and us. There was never a complaint of being bored or them asking us to entertain them. They didn’t sit cooped up inside or isolate themselves. And they were happy.

With Just a tire.

]]>http://twopenniesministry.com/just-a-tire/feed/0Edward–A Man of God in Ghanahttp://twopenniesministry.com/edward-a-man-of-god-in-ghana/
http://twopenniesministry.com/edward-a-man-of-god-in-ghana/#respondTue, 03 Oct 2017 11:01:41 +0000http://twopenniesministry.com/?p=1139One of the great things about going on journeys with Two Pennies Ministry to Ghana is the relationships we build when we are there. I would like to tell you about a man I met on my first journey to Ghana in 2012. He has an exciting faith story and has become an invaluable member of our Two Pennies team in Ghana.

Edward and Dave Towner in 2016.

Edward Adu Tarbi grew up in the interior of Ghana. He came to know Jesus as a youth when a friend invited him to church and he heard the word of God preached. He felt God’s leading in his life to accept Jesus as his savior and share the good news with others. He and a friend felt called to preach God’s word to the people of rural Ghana on the streets. As Edward says,”If you have a seed and don’t plant it you won’t have a harvest”

Edward saw confirmation of his evangelistic work when he and his friend came to a small village and talked to a mother whose daughter couldn’t walk. They prayed for the little girl and when they returned a few weeks later the girl was able to walk. They praised God for his faithfulness.

In 1993 he moved to Tema a large city on the southern coast of Ghana near the capital of Accra. There he met a pastor and worked in his church and was part of the evangelism team. There they started visiting orphanages and prisons. It was at one of these orphanages that I met Edward on my first trip to Ghana. Since that time Edward has been an interpreter and encourager to all who come on the journeys.

Edward and Barry Haldeman in 2017.

Edward has a strong desire to see God’s work done. He says, “We are not put on this earth to make things easier for ourselves, but to bless others. We have joined together in seeing God bless others as we give of ourselves.”

Edward is presently part of the evangelism team at his church in Tema. They reach out to many of the small churches near them and provide them with training and discipleship materials.

Edward has taken it upon himself, along with encouragement from Two Pennies Ministry to help provide shoes, school supplies, and school uniforms for the schools in his home village in central Ghana.

“Preaching to the poor is very important, but we must also feed them, clothe them, and help provide for their physical needs in the name of Jesus.”

Edward believes with all his heart that to be rich is to reach the poor. He demonstrates this in his life and actions. It is a joy to have Edward as a part of our team.

Edward and his wife Georgina, live in Tema with their 3 sons ages 15,7, and 2.

]]>http://twopenniesministry.com/edward-a-man-of-god-in-ghana/feed/0An interview about a Journeyhttp://twopenniesministry.com/an-interview-about-a-journey/
http://twopenniesministry.com/an-interview-about-a-journey/#commentsTue, 12 Sep 2017 11:06:31 +0000http://twopenniesministry.com/?p=1131Amanda Towner is the daughter of Dave and Joy Towner. She is a Junior at Westminster Christian School where she participates in Music Theatre, Art Club, and Science Olympiad. She works part time at Headquarters Salon.

At a youth camp at the age of 13, Amanda gave her life to Christ and became a Christian with a heart to serve people in places near and far… As far as in Ghana, West Africa, where Amanda traveled in March 2017 with the Two Pennies ministry from Elgin First Baptist Church. In this exclusive interview with Audrey Reed, Amanda shares memories that she will forever treasure.

A – Amanda Towner R- Audrey Reed

R – Will you share some of your impressions of Ghana and the people?

A – The people were accepting of us. They didn’t care where we came from and loved us no

matter what. They surrounded us with open arms and held our hands.

Amanda being met with open arms.

R – How did they express their acceptance of you, the team?

A – There was one day when the children surrounded me and took me by the hand and led me

to their classroom. They sat me down, and then sat down in their own seats. They told me to

“teach”.

They were so happy to have us there and to have us share our lives with them.

Aboagye (School Headmaster) was great. He was a real friend to us. He was protective of

me and wanted to make sure I was taken care of. No matter what I was feeling he kept

checking up on me and making sure that everything was alright.

R – Did you feel you made friends or had a relationship with any of them?

A– Yes. Aboagye. I love him. He drove us around; took care of me when I got sick. He is half of

the reason I want to go back. I want to help him take care of the kids; help him improve their

lives. As soon as I met him we instantly became friends and I could see how much he cared

Aboagye. Our faithful leader.

about the people around him.

At one point at the school there was a baby girl who was afraid of me, because she had

never seen a white person before. The older girls came and shoved her close to me in order

to see her reaction, which turned out to be a lot of tears. I told them I was “too white” and

from then on when the girls saw me, they would laugh and say “too white”. It was a really

great experience to joke around with kids that came from a completely different background.

R – What was your responsibility or job while in Ghana?

I didn’t have a specific job, so I took pictures. They loved having their picture taken. They

would gather all around me and yell “Madam!” until I took their pictures.

We also took the children at the orphanage to KaKum National Park. It was a fun experience

As we walked on canopies and a rope bridges high in the forest.

I loved seeing the smiles on the kids faces as they saw how high up they were.

R – What are some of the needs you observed in Ghana?

A – There is a need for clothes, especially school uniforms. The children wore them ripped and

dirty. The orphanage did not have electricity because the generator broke down.

There is a great need for water. We saw them drinking water from a hole in the ground.

R – What needs do you believe that we can meet?

A – Clothes, generator, wells.

R – How do you see the Lord working in Ghana?

A – Although they are poor, they are happy. They show such happiness at seeing us. Even if we

don’t do anything they love us and our coming because it is about our relationships. We

have a relationship with them and when they see us, they’re so happy and say “they’re

back!”.

It’s all about the relationships we have with them, that allows us to see God working in

Ghana.

R – How can people expect God to use them to bring the people in Ghana to Christ?

A – By providing Bibles, and by using the Pastor’s Conference, but the main thing is building

relationships with them. I believe that the relationships will lead them to want to follow

Amanda reads with the children at the Katakyiase School.

Christ.

R – What do you remember the most when you think about your trip to Ghana with the Two

Pennies Team?

A – How enthusiastic the people were, is what I remember most about them, and how much I

loved to be around them. Of course, Aboagye is high on my list too.

R – We heard that you got sick while in Ghana? What effect did that have on you?

A – I wasn’t able to do all that I wanted to do, but God used it. When I was back to health I had

to be careful. I was able to meet with the kids and brought them to do computer lab.

I showed them what was being done and how things worked in the computer lab.

R – Would you like to return to Ghana, and if so, Why?

A – I would love to. I want to help the kids who do not have anything.

R – How do you see Two Pennies being used by God in Ghana?

A – The people there have learned to make relationships with us and they are changing to be

self- sufficient. We are changing too. They impacted us. We see how they live and we

realize that the way they are living (by giving of themselves) is the way we should live. We

spend too much time thinking about the materials in our prosperous world and they are

thinking and devoting their time to God.

Amanda Towner’s Father. Dave Towner.

R – What last thoughts would you like to share?

A – Everyone should go to Ghana. If they go to Ghana, they should be prepared because the

The Heart of our Ministry

I remember clearly sitting at a table in the back of the foyer at First Baptist Church feeling so uncomfortable…praying that people would look at the faces of these children and feel lead to sponsor one of the children at Love and Care Orphanage. So many thoughts ran through my mind…what if I can’t find sponsors for any of these beautiful children, what if only one is sponsored, how will Two Pennies afford to sponsor all of them on our own? But I needn’t have worried. By the end of second service all 10 children had sponsors! 10 people had stepped out in faith and claimed one of these children as their own. A few months later 3 more children were added to the orphanage and within a week 3 more people had been added as sponsors. God has been so faithful!

In June of this year, I finally had the opportunity to meet these 13 children face to face. As I walked up the long drive to the orphanage I could see the children on the front porch realize that we were coming. Shouts echoed around and soon the children were running down the hill to greet us. What a welcome! The smiles on their faces were contagious. As I greeted them each by name, one of them asked me, “how do you know our names?” How do you tell children that have never met that their names have been ingrained upon your heart for years? How do you tell them that you have been praying for them, loving them and even crying over them for longer than they can remember? How do you express to them how happy seeing their smiles makes you?

That hot day in June was a day that I will never forget. Being able to finally meet these children and see for myself how well they are doing was incredible. Children who once wanted to be farmers and sell goods on the street now dream of being doctors, nurses, teachers and lawyers. Their outlook on life has been so drastically changed all because of a few people followed God’s call to make a difference in their lives. Thank you to all of you who support these children financially and with your prayers. You are truly making a difference in the life of a child.

Over the last six years, Two Pennies Ministry has partnered with the people of Ghana to do some amazing work. And Whether it was building a library, providing lunches for school children, or building a new home for a struggling orphanage, we’ve made ministering to Children one of our top priorities.

Because your generosity, we’ve also been able to provide a number of surgeries for children in need. For the next week we will be having a online fundraiser to support the operations and medical devices that these children need. Victoria needs new shoes and braces, Bernard needs an operation and Aaron needs significant eye surgery and a prosthetic. (More information following the link.

If you can help support us in this cause, know that every penny will be used for these medical expenses and for other children like them in Ghana. Just click on the link below to donate.

Just over five years ago, while we attended a church service in Asebu, Ghana, a woman came up to Aboagye and tugged at his sleeve. She whispered a few words to him and then he turned and asked if we could meet outside.

In the shadow of the church the woman cradled a small boy in her arms. Despite the heat, he was wrapped in a large white cloth. Bernard had been born with bladder extrophy, a serious birth defect that the family couldn’t

Bernard and his mother in 2015.

afford to remedy. As she spoke, she unfolded the cloth around her son to assure us of the gravity of the situation – she said that we needed to see. His condition was so severe that he had to remain covered all the time and kept as sterile as possible. He was 18 months old and wasn’t allowed to walk or move about for fear of infection. His mother and father had provided as best they could but, as cassava farmers, they had reached the extent of what they could do. The situation had become desperate.

It is important to note that at this point, our ministry was still in its infancy. We had built a chicken farm for an orphanage. That’s it. And here was a woman asking for extensive care for her child. She had heard that maybe we could do something. It’s humbling experience to asked to save a life. It’s a helpless feeling to not have an answer.

We prayed with her and assured her that we would take her story back to our church and see what we could do. While our means are limited, we serve a limitless God.

Bernard in the hospital after his first surgery.

Within weeks of our return to the States, God had provided the funds for the first rounds of surgery for Bernard. Over the last four years, Bernard has had four operations and still needs at least two more before the cycle is complete. Aboagye has been a tireless advocate for Bernard and his family in getting the medical help he needs.

On nearly every journey, we visit Bernard and his family. While he still needs more operations, he now runs with his friends at school and has a wonderful smile. He recently told his sister that he believes God has great plans for him when he finishes with these operations.